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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Future Global Conflicts : The Freshwater Wars!

The Freshwater Wars!

Fresh Water is becoming a scarce commodity due to rapid urbanization, mismanagement of water sources and the effects of global warming with reference to the rapid melting of glaciers around the world. Future conflicts could be caused by the necessity to control or possess fresh water sources. More than 50 countries on five continents might soon be caught up in water disputes unless they move quickly to establish agreements on how to share reservoirs, rivers, and underground water acquifers. Potential hot-spots for trouble can be seen in South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Much of the water in China, India and Nepal comes from glaciers in the Himalayas and with rapid economic progress , the lack of sustainable development, population growth, increasing demand for water from agricultural and industry, plus the impact of global warming, it is going to be a survival of the fittest in securing enough water.

The potential dispute between India and Pakistan over the Indus is highly possible while in central Asia "there are high risks of conflict" between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the Amu Daria and Syr Daria rivers and the already depleted Aral Sea.In Africa, the Chobe, a tributary of the Zambesi, has become a cause of tension between Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while there have been border incidents between Mauritania and Senegal over control of the Senegal River.